Dishwasher



May 28, 1935- R. E. MARBURY DISHWASHER s Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Nov 11.1951 WITNESSES: W

May 28, 1935. R. E. MARBURY' DISHWASHER Filed Nov. 11, 1931 5Sheets-Sheet 3 1 I I Infill lllilHHl IN V EN TOR F450}; 5. Marz/ry.

WITNESSESZ ATTORNE Patented May 28, 1935 PATENT OFFICE DISHWASHER RalphE. llarbury, Wilkinaburg Electric &

Westinghouse Pa., assigns to Manufacturing Oompany. a corporation ofPenmylvania Application November 11, 1931, Serial No. 574,353

My invention relates to household appliances and more particularly todish washers.

An object of my invention is to provide a relatively simple and highlyefiicient dish washer.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dish washer that shallhave a minimum number I of operating parts. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide a dish washer that shall beself cleansing and be easy to maintain in sanitary condition at alLtimes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dish washer that shallembody means for preventing water from the tub entering a motordepending therefrom.

In practicing my invention I provide a container or tub having a motordepending therefrom and supported thereby, and a motor shaft extendinginto the tub and engageable by a removable impeller unit. A water inletpipe enters the container near its upper edge and a rotatable spraypipe, supported on the inside of a hinged cover, engages the inlet pipewhen the cover is closed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a sink with which is associateda dish washer embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section therethrough taken on the line II-Hof Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an exploded view, partly in section and partly in sideelevation, of a part of a dish washer embodying my invention and showingmore particularly a rotatable spray pipe,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in sideelevation, of a water inlet pipe,

Fig. 5 is a partial view, in front elevation, of a rotatable spray pipe,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a fluid-guide and tray-supportingmember, and

Fig. 7 is a view, mainly in vertical section, through the motor andimpeller unit.

I have illustrated my improved dish washer as constituting an integralpart of a sink structure shown generally at H in Fig. 1 of the drawings.This sink structure is of the usual construction now provided in manyhomes and includes a back wall l2 and the mual depressed sink l3 with afront apron ll, all of the usual or standard kind. A tub or container Itmay constitute an integral part of the structure I I, and, while I haveelected to illustrate and describe the parts or elements moreparticularly constituting my invention as applied to a stationarystructure, my invention is not limited thereto, but the container l3 andthe other parts associated therewith may be made in the form of amovable device, and is well known to those skilled in this particularart.

A drain pipe I1 is provided for the sink portion l3 and water inletpipes controlled by a usual 5 fixture I 3 may also be provided. Thedrain i1 is connected to an outlet pipe I! and the tub or container I3is provided with a suitable outlet pipe II which is opened or closed byan actuating handle 22 or by any suitable similar means effective 10 forthe desired purpose. The outlet 2! is connected to pipe I! by suitablemeans designated generally by the numeral 23 in Fig. l of the drawings.

I The tub I! has a water inlet pipe 28 entering the same near the upperrear edge thereof immediately below a hinged cover 21, which ispivotally supported by' a plurality of suitable hinges 23 secured to theback wall II.

A rotatable spray pipe assembly is illustrated more particularly inFigs. 3 to 5 inclusive of the drawings and includes a fixed tubularsocket 3| which may be located substantially centrally of the cover 21and which has one end of a radiallyextending spray inlet pipe 32connected thereto, 25 the other end of the pipe 32 fitting tightly intoa block 33 held against the under surface of the cover 21 by anysuitable means not shown in the drawings. The block 33 has an openingtherethrough, indicated by the broken lines to provide a conduit 34 ofsubstantially S-shape, one end of which registers with one end of thespray inlet pipe 32 and the other end of which is adapted to fit tightlyover the inwardly projecting end 36 of inlet pipe 23 when the cover isclosed so that water flowing through pipe 26 may flow also throughconduit 34 and into pipe 32. The opening in pipe 26 extends downwardlyat the inner end of portion 33', as is indicated at 3'! in Fig. 4 of thedrawings, so that if it is desired to admit water into the tub II at atime when the cover 21 is in its open position, the water will flowdownwardly, thereby preventing splashing thereof on an operator who maybe standing in front of the tub I.

A rotatable spray structure mounted on the socket 3i includes a top hub38 having a central opening 39 therein of such size as to fit over thesocket 3|. A pair of radially-extending tubular wings or conduits 4i and42 have their inner ends 60 fitting into the hub 33 which is providedwith radially-extending openings 43 therein to permit water to flow intothe radial wings 4| and 42. These tubular members are closed at theirouter ends and are severally provided with a number of relatively smallopenings 44 which are located at opposite sides of the two members sothat water flowing out of these openings and, therefore, substantiallytangentially to the axis of the tub, will cause this hub to rotate.

Means for holding the hub in its proper operative position on the socket8| may include a holding nut or stop 48 which is also of tubular shapeand provided with an enlarged flange interfitting with the hub 88, andan upper extension 41 having screw-threads thereon, which engageinterrial screw-threads in the lower part of the tubular socket 8 I Abottom spray pipe 48 has its upper end in tight engagement with a bottompiece 48 which is of conical tubular shape, the upper enlarged endportion having inner screwthreads fitting onto the lower portion SI ofhub 88. The intermediate part of member 48 is provided with a pluralityof radially-extending relatively small openings 52 through which watermay flow. Spray pipe 48 is provided with a plurality ofcircumierentially distributed small water outlet openings 83 and moreparticularly with two slots 54 and 5! at its bottom end, which slots maybe of substantially in arcuate extent and which are made wide enough sothat a substantial quantity of water may be admitted therethrough. Itmay be here pointed out that I consider the provision of these arcuateslots in the end of the spray pipe 48, which end is of semi-sphericalshape, as an important element in my improved dish washer, as the wateremitted therefrom is in the shape of a fiat spray of fan shape. Thewidth of the slots 84 and 55 is such that, as hereinbefore stated, aconsiderable quantity of water may fiow therethrough, which operationtogether with the rotating motion of the pipe will be particularlyeffective in rinsing dishes after they have been cleansed of adheringmatter.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, I have illustrated a wire basket 8|of open construction in which dishes, such as plates 82, may be stood onedge with their soiled inner surfaces facing the axis of the tub I8. Ihave found it preferable to place the flat tableware, such as plates, inthe bottom of the wire basket BI and cups 88 and tumblers 64 in an upperportion of container 8|, substantially as indicated in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. tumblers should also point inwardly in order that water fromthe openings 52 and 58 in the rotatable sprayer may be forced into theinside of these dishes.

Referring now to Fig. '7 of the drawings, it may be noted that the tubI8 is provided with an opening II in the bottom wall thereof, in whichopening there is located an outer bush! ing I2 which has an integralenlarged flange I3 at its .upper end resting upon a writable gasket I4in order to cooperate with other elements to provide a watertightclosure for we bottom of the tub. A driving-motor structure includes amotor housing 18 having a bearing bracket I1 either integral therewithor secured thereto in a manner ,well known in the art. The housing I8has located therein the usual stator structure of a motor (not shown inthe drawings) and a rotor structure (not specifically shown in thedrawings) is indicated more particularly by a rotor shaft I8, the upperend of which is maintained in proper operative position within thebearing bracket 11 by a ball bearing 18 located in a bearing flange 8|of usual construction. I have illustrated certain details of the shaftof the upper bearing structure for illustrative pur- The inside of thecups and poses, but my invention tive for the same purpose may beutilized.

The upper end 82 of bearing bracket I1 is made of lesser diameter and isprovided with internal screw threads so that'the motor and the bearingbracket may be suspended from the bushing 12 by being screwed thereon,this screwthreaded engagement being made tight enough to compress theupper annular gasket I4 and a lower outer gasket 88 to ensure afluid-tight joint and closure of the opening II. I may here state thatwhile the upper portion 82 directly engaging the bushing I2 isillustrated as being integral with the bearing bracket I1, my inventionis not limited to this particular construction and I may utilize anupper member directly engaging the bushing I2, which is made separatefrom the part of the bearing bracket directly engaging the housing I8 asmay be found necessary or desirable for construction or assemblypurposes. The lower portion of the tubular bushing 12 has an annularrecess 84 therein by the provision of an inner annular flange 88.

An inner bearing sleeve 8| surrounds the upper portion 82 of rotor shaft18, the lower end portion 88 thereof fitting within the annulus 80,hereinbefore described, and being adapted to compress a fluid tightpacking 84 inside of the annulus 88, which, as shown in Fig. 7 of thedrawings, is provided with a lower annular portion 88 to retain thepacking 84 in its proper operative position. The upper end portion ofmember 8| is provided with external screw threads fitting and screwinginto internal threads in bushing 12, whereby the packing 84 may betightly compressed.

The upper end of member 8| is provided with an annular recess 81 inwhich is located an upper packing 88 which is held in place andcompressed by an upper sleeve 88 which is, in tur held within theopening 81 by a nut IIII, the lower end of which has screw-threadedengagement with the upper end portion of member 8|.

It is very desirable, if not necessary, that fluid which may be locatedin-the tub I6, be prevented from entering the motor structure dependingtherefrom, which fluid might find its way along the external peripheryof shaft 82. In order to prevent this, I provide two annular recessesI02 and I03 in member 8| intermediate its ends and, therefore,intermediate the two packings 84 and 88. A plurality of openings I04 inmember 8| extend downwardly and slightly outwardly from the annularrecesses I02 and I03. Extended operation of the device has shown thatany water flowing downwardly along the shaft 82 past the sleeve 88 andthrough the packing 88 will be thrown radially outwardly when it reachesthe annular recesses I02 and I03, and, as the openings I04 communicatewith the outer portions of these recesses, and particularly the lowerportions thereof, any fluid thus trapped will flow shamanism. specificdetails, as any other elements operadownwardly into therecess 84 fromwhich it may stub shaft ill provided with a groove H1 at its lower endinto which a tongue Illa on the upper end of shaft 92 may flt to effecta driving connection therebetween.

An impeller structure III has screw-threaded engagement with the upperend of shaft H6 which projects .beyond the thrust sleeve bearing H4 andany suitable or desired number of vanes or blades H9 may be provided. Itmay be noted that the impeller structure including more particularly theimpeller Ill and the supporting sleeve Ill, may be easily and quicklyremoved from operative engagement with the upwardly projecting endportion of shaft 82 and its surrounding bearing structure and that solong as it is in operative engagement therewith and the impeller isbeing driven by the motor, the reac tive thrust on the vanes Ill willmaintain such operative driving engagement.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawings, III indicates afluid-guiding and tray supporting member, including a tubular shroud I22surrounding the impeller blades I", a substantially flat annular portionIII at the bottom of shroud I22 and a plurality of flatradially-extending guide and supporting portions I24 whose upper edgesare secured to the lower surface of annulus I23 and whose lower edgesconform to the surface of the sleeve III. This provides not only asupport for the basket I, but also ensures that the water actuated bythe impeller will move in a proper path from the outside of the tub andbetween the conical surface of member Ill and the annulus I23, the thinvertical members I24 preventing swirling of the water circumferentiallyof the axis of /the impeller.

If it is desired to operate the dish washer, the larger plates andsimilar tableware will be placed in positions shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, standing on edge and preferably having the upper edges thereoflocated farther radially out wardly than the lower edges thereof,-thetumblers and silverware being located at the top of the basket 6|. Uponclosure of the cover 21, hot water may be turned on to enter the pipe 26from which it will flow through conduit 34 into the fixed pipe 32 andoutwardly through the spray structure shown more particularly in Figs. 3to inclusive of the drawings, and, I prefer to permit such a quantity ofwater to enter the tub as to bring the fluid level thereof tosubstantially the broken lines indicated by l3i in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. The motor may be energized coincident with the admission ofwater to the tub, and, by actual observation, I have determined that thewater thrown upwardly by the impeller Ill when there is but a smallquantity of water in the tub barely suflicient to be agitated or movedby the blades, will be thrown substantially verticaliy upwardly insideof the tubular member III, the general shape of the path of the waterdrops or particles being that of a spiral whose initial travel isvertically upwardly and then spirally outwardly.

As the quantity-of water in the tub increases, the spiral path changes,as does also the vertically-upward path, the former becoming more andmore radial and the latter becoming more and more angularly radiallyoutwardly. This will be especially the case when the level of the wateris substantially that indicated by the broken line Ill, at which timethere will be an eflicient surging action, as well as a highly eflicientcirculation of the water, the surging action being suiiicicnt to removesoil adhering to the plates by a scouring action while the circulationof the water presents fresh water, so to speak, to assist in softeningthe adhering soil which may then be more easily removed by the surgingaction of the water.

If an excessive quantity of water be located in the tub, as for instanceif the water level is at the broken line I32 of Fig. 2, the surgingaction will be greatly decreased and the water will be merelycirculated, but with relatively little dynamic force therein. Because ofthe path of the circulating water being radially upwardly and outwardly,an eilicient cleansing action on the entire surfaces of plates 02 andother dishes is effected and it is not essential that a minimum numberonly of such dishes be placed in the basket as the circulation of thewater will effect a cleansing of all of the dishes within a relativelyshort time, it being understood, of course, that suitable soap or soappowders may be provided to assist in cutting and removing any greasysoil.

After the dishes located within the tub I hafi been thoroughly cleansed,the drain may be opened and the water permitted to flow out of the tub.Then the dishes are rinsed by admitting water to the inlet pipe 26 whichwill then flow out of the spray structure hereinbefore described,

the reactive effect. of the water flowing through tion of the .spraystructure. Alrelatively large volume of water will flow out of the spraypipe ,48 through the openings 84 and BI, this spray being of fan shapeand rotating .so that an eflicient rinsing action of the hot water onthe dishes will be obtained, while at the same time water flowingoutwardly through the openings 52 will effect a rinsing action oftableware located in the upper part of the wire container I. It is notnecessary that the drain from the tub be closed during the rinsingaction, thereby permitting an efiective flushing action of the entireinterior of the machine. I

Extended experiments with a bearing structure of the kind shown in Fig.7 of the drawings has indicated that there is little or no leakage ofwater flowing downwardly along shaft 92 into the motor structure, butthat there is an appreciable drainage out through pipe I, thus showingthat the device particularly embodying my bearing structure is highlyemcient in precluding entrance of water into the motor structure.

The device embodying my invention thus provides a relatively simple andhighly efllcient structure for, flrst, washing and then rinsing disheswhich may be placed in a container, the structure embodying relativelyfew and simple parts highly efllicient for the desired purpose.

Various modifications may be made in my invention without departing fromthe spirit and scope thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only suchlimitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art orare set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a washer including a container having an opening in the bottomwall thereof, a bushing structure in the opening and a motor-drivenshaft extending upwardly through the bushing structure, and an impellerstructure supported on the bottom wall of the container and including asupporting conical sleeve interfltting with bushing structure, animpeller and a driving shaft therefor supported by said sleeve, saidshaft having a loose driving engagement with the motor-driven shaft.

2. In a washer including a container having an opening in a bottom walland a motor driven shaft projecting upwardly through said opening, abearing structure for the shaft supported by and secured to said bottomwall, a conical sleeve resting on the bottom wall, surrounding thebearing structure and having a bearing sleeve in its upper end, animpeller resting on the bearing sleeve and an impeller shaft extendingthrough the bearing sleeve in the upper end of the conical sleeve, saidimpeller shaft having a tongue and slot connection with the motor drivenshaft.

3. A washer including a tub, an impeller in the tub adapted to circulatefluid therein, driving means for the impeller, an annular sleeve ofconical shape resting on the bottom wall of the tub and supporting theimpeller, a materialreceiving basket around and above the impeller, andafluid-guiding and basket-supporting member extending around and belowthe impeller, said member comprising a tubular fluideguidlng shroudsurrounding the impeller and a plurality of vertical radially-extendingfluid-guiding blades resting on the annular sleeve.

' 4. A washer including a tub having a bottom wall having an openingtherein, a bushing in said opening, a bearing sleeve assemblyinteriltting with and supported by said bushing, a rotatable shaftextending upwardly through said bearing sleeve assembly, a sleeveelement resting on the bottom wall of the tub extending above thebearing sleeve assembly and operatively centered thereby relatively tothe shaft, an impeller structure supported by the sleeve element andincluding an impeller shaft extending into the sleeve element and havinga tongue and slot connection with the rotatable shaft.

' RALPH E. MARBURY.

